Sea News...
- 10 April 2013 12:09224654a couple of points here paul.
a) fredrik olsen and his 2 brothers founded the company back in the 19th century.
b) the original photo of the rough sleeper was sent to porchlight the day it appeared here, they e mailed me asking all sorts of daft questions such as does he drink/take drugs/carry a weapon/suffer from a mental disorder etc.
i simply replied that i didn't even know that there was a male there let alone his full c.v. - 10 April 2013 16:51224698The MSC Magnifica will most certainly be one to watch out for on Saturday so get your camera charged up & ready PaulB, you won't be disappointed. It's a Musica-class cruise ship described as an opulent & magnificent luxury liner.
It entered service only 3 years ago and was built at a cost of, wait for it, $547 million. It has 1259 cabins & can carry 3605 passengers at full capacity. Also,1027 crew operate the ship & provide for passengers. It's 964 ft long with a beam of 106 ft, so we are in for a real treat on Saturday. Hope the weather is kind on the day, forecast looking good, I will be down on the seafront to see it for sure
- 11 April 2013 08:39224753Here is the scene a minute ago..there may or may not be a cruise liner there..or even a ferry..Gawd knows...
Good to hear that Martin re Police launch Delta99. Well done to DHB there and as you say, long may it continue.
We can only do what we can Howard so hopefully Porchlight will act in time so well done too.
I am not aware of Porchlight myself..I must admit never heard of it, but that's probably just me.
I hope this coming MSC Magnifica doesn't get lost in more fog on saturday otherwise no pictures..boohoo lol!email: dover7@msn.com - 11 April 2013 09:50224776Just a quick update re the above:
there are TWO AIDA cruise liners in as we speak. Fog has cleared a miniscule amount.
But through the gloom the AIDA Stella and AIDA Cara are just about visible.
Yes that's right...you buy one AIDA and you get one free..just like in ASDA
or two for the price of one.email: dover7@msn.com - 11 April 2013 11:11224801Just adding a couple of pictures. This is the first double header visit of the year so worth recording.
Both AIDA ships...see post above.
Although cant get a great pic from my location as i write..
also an extra one of the busy busy tugboat a moment ago.
email: dover7@msn.com - 12 April 2013 03:26224943AIDAstella and AIDAcara on the Admiralty Pier.
Bunker tanker Cap Mejean is the most recent supplying bunkers in the port. Occasionally supplies the DFDS vessels in Dunkerque West on their saturday night layover.
Barge passing in Dunkerque West with runabout car parked on hatch, something you frequently see on the Rhine barges.
Latest progress on the construction of the LNG terminal in Dunkerque West, showing the three huge tanks growing by the day. The liquid LNG will be regasified using waste heat piped across from the Gravelines nuclear power station over the other side of the outer port.
- 12 April 2013 04:14224944Health and Safety is taken a little differently in the Greek islands from what we are used to in Dover.
See this ferry berthing and the passengers running for it. Action starts from about 5 minutes in.
- 12 April 2013 10:54224987Jeezez thats one scary landing there Ed in that video..I'm cancelling all my Grecian inter island cruising forthwith, the refund demand is going off as i write. There are one or two motorbikes there close to being washed away and with the riders still on them! heavens! As an oul motorbiker meself that looks scary. Even the ground crew are having a hard time of it. it proves doesnt it, that there are very much two Europes..one north where its all very efficient and one south where its all manyana !!
Good set of pictures..thats the AIDA duo from the unusual viewpoint there and am intrigued as ever by Dunkerque.
Will aim to get there this year as it looks interesting..I haven't made it so far.
I expect that gas is all destined for the UK in due course seeing as we are big energy importers nowadays.
Here with a couple of interesting news bits just in from DHB. Many thanks to them as ever. Chris will I'm sure have it on the frontpage too. Great news re 2014 immediately below...
Dover Cruise Port benefits from an increase in AIDA calls during 2014
As a reflection of the growing popularity of Dover as a port call, and the county as a destination, Dover Cruise Port is pleased to announce that AIDA has confirmed a total of 24 port calls to Dover for 2014, compared to 22 for this year.
Kate O'Hara, Head of Business Delivery, Port of Dover commented: "2014 will be another busy year for the cruise business in Kent as the popularity of cruise holidays continues to grow. We are delighted that AIDA recognises the cruise terminal's exceptional service and outstanding facilities, along with the wealth of shore excursion opportunities in this beautiful county."
For 2014, AIDA will be operating a mixture of four, 11 and 14 day cruises sailing around Western Europe and all calling at Dover. The vessels will include AIDAbella, AIDAcara, AIDAluna, AIDAsol. In addition, there will be a brand new ship, AIDAstella, which was berthed alongside AIDAcara in Dover yesterday (April 11) on their voyages to Hamburg and Kiel.
AIDA Cruises is the leader and most recognised cruise brand in the German cruise business. A total of ten AIDA ships are currently in service and operate in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, the Arabian Gulf, Asia, North America and around the Canary Islands. AIDA ships are dedicated to the German-speaking market and renowned for their relaxed yet stylish atmosphere on board, with a host of on-board amenities and facilities.
Kate O'Hara continues: "We are delighted to welcome AIDAstella to Dover on her inaugural visit and look forward to another successful year at the Port of Kings. We have worked hard to develop the relationship with AIDA and are delighted with the increased number of calls that we welcome year on year."
ENDS
Also current excellent news
Port of Dover records positive start to a new year
The Port of Dover continues to beat the UK's economic trend with positive traffic growth for the first quarter of 2013 compared with the first quarter of 2012.
Passenger numbers grew 6.5% to 2,135,295, coach traffic increased 13.8% to 15,640 and road haulage vehicles (RHV) increased 6.7% to 518,979 during the first quarter (Q1) of 2013 compared with one year earlier.
The positive start to 2013 was helped by an early Easter, which saw the Port handle over a quarter of million passengers during the holiday getaway. In addition, the cross-Channel market only had two ferry operators operating services out of Dover at the beginning of last year. However the arrival of a third ferry operator has supported the growth and improved the market share for the Port of Dover.
Tim Godden, Head of Strategic Analysis said:
"We are delighted that in spite of the on going economic challenge, passengers are still choosing to travel the Channel using the Port of Dover. The increased traffic combined with the early Easter holiday contributed towards a positive start to 2013. The Port's staff did a great job to make sure everything worked smoothly for our customers"
ENDS
Have a little about that on the old frontpage blog too.email: dover7@msn.com - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,803
12 April 2013 11:32224990Ed Connell wrote:Health and Safety is taken a little differently in the Greek islands from what we are used to in Dover.
See this ferry berthing and the passengers running for it. Action starts from about 5 minutes in.
Yikes!!!!!!!! That is enough to put any potential visitor off for ever.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 13 April 2013 06:58225076Excellent news concerning AIDA's commitment to Dover calls next year. MSC Magnifica is arriving at Dover now. At over 93,000 tons the biggest caller of the year thus far.
- 13 April 2013 07:15225077And here she is, a true leviathan of the seas! Another grey, cold start, so the picture is not great. Where is Spring!?
- 13 April 2013 07:17225078Wow!! 93,000 tons Kevin. What a size and a magnificent specimen too.
You just have to be proud seeing a ship like this, the MSC Magnifica, coming into Dover...
....it cuts quite a stupendous dash.
Here are a couple of quick pix taken just minutes ago...
Like a silent giant above she smoulders quietly into the harbour almost unseen beyond the daily routine.
And then being helped by the tug to turn its giant bulk around... just outside my rear window.
The mist is rolling in a bit now we were lucky getting the pictures I suspect.
But if anyone wants to see a splendid ship pop down to the harbour today. Great to see these guys coming.email: dover7@msn.com - 13 April 2013 07:27225079Excellent photos from your angle, Paul. As you say, certainly a coup for Dover to be attracting such prestigious cruise calls. There is a lot of spending power on these ships, so retailers and attractions need to gear up for such trade in the town.
MSC Magnifica is back in Dover this year on 20 April, along with sister ships MSC Musica (23 April) and MSC Poesia (5 May). MSC Poesia was actually named in Dover by Sophia Lauren in April 2008. I believe she is "godmother" to all their ships. MSC Magnifica and MSC Musica will also make four calls at Dover at the end of the season in August/September. - 13 April 2013 07:34225080Thanks for all that info Kevin. Good to know all that. Clearly there's a great collection of ships coming. I've added another couple of small ones in the middle of my last post now (332) just to try and do it justice.email: dover7@msn.com
- 13 April 2013 10:32225102brian was up at the crack of dawn and sent us in these photos.
- 13 April 2013 10:33225103Another view of MSC Magnifica
- 13 April 2013 10:38225105Chinook landing at the Coastguard Station yesterday afternoon:
- 13 April 2013 11:26225110'Spring is just around the corner' Kevin, fingers crossed
WOW! what a whopper the Magnifica is, not surprising at 93000 tons! I saw her coming in this morning from my window & I am watching her now at rest at the cruise terminal. Will be down to take a closer look later on today & the sun is out now yippee!
Great set of photos there chaps you all certainly delivered albeit a very grey misty morning earlier on.
I remember the MSC Poesia, was it really 2008, how time flies. We were there for the press launch & saw the gorgeous Sophia. Will upload a pic of the framed print that the press were given on the day as soon as I find it. - 13 April 2013 11:29225111
I found it, here it is - 13 April 2013 11:50225115i seem to remember you and paul covering that event, doesn't seem 5 years ago.
